What will USC offense look like in 2022? Let’s project depth chart ahead of spring
The South Carolina offense is getting a makeover.
The 2021 season wasn’t kind to the Gamecocks or offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield. With a slew of new faces and a solid core returning, it’s hard to imagine the Gamecocks don’t take at least a slight step forward.
Here’s a look at what the depth chart should look like heading into spring practices this week:
Quarterback
Starter: Spencer Rattler
Backups: Luke Doty, Colten Gauthier
This should be the most obvious projection on South Carolina’s roster.
Former Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler heads into the spring as arguably the most heralded signal-caller in South Carolina history. His time in Norman ebbed and flowed, reaching a boiling point in 2021 when he was benched in favor of five-star freshman Caleb Williams. Rattler is now the face of a resurgent program entering its second season under head coach Shane Beamer.
The big winner in the Rattler news — beyond South Carolina — might be Luke Doty. The former Myrtle Beach star wasn’t as polished as most top-100 quarterback recruits are coming out of high school. He never got a true redshirt year in 2020 out of necessity, and his foot injury stalled development last fall. Now he’ll actually get a chance to sit and learn behind an experienced starter. That should bode well for the future.
Colten Gauthier figures to be the third-string quarterback, though that could turn into a battle with freshmen Braden Davis and Tanner Bailey. Davis is already on campus and should get some looks during spring ball.
In all, this might be the most settled South Carolina’s quarterback room has been since Jake Bentley entered the year as the starter in 2017. Considering the Gamecocks started four different players under center a season ago, that’s a massive win in itself.
Running back
Starter: Christian Beal-Smith
Backups: MarShawn Lloyd, Juju McDowell, Lovasea Carroll
While quarterback might be the simplest room to project, running back is a crapshoot.
South Carolina has a quartet of capable tailbacks in returners MarShawn Lloyd and Juju McDowell and transfers Christian Beal-Smith (Wake Forest) and Lovasea Carroll (Georgia).
I’m siding with Beal-Smith to be the bell cow in 2022 given his experience. The former Demon Deacon led his squad in rushing each of the last two seasons — including during in 2020 when he shared a backfield with eventual Heisman Trophy candidate Kenneth Walker III.
If it’s not Beal-Smith, I’d guess it’ll be Lloyd. He’s a former blue-chip recruit who had as much hype as any offensive prospect South Carolina has signed in a decade. A torn ACL washed out his first fall in Columbia. Last season was promising in spurts, but fumbles hurt his cause. He’ll have his chance to cement himself atop the depth chart this spring.
Beamer and Satterfield will likely rotate in a number of different ball carriers given the depth the Gamecocks have at the position. Expect this to be a bit of a similar situation to last season when each of ZaQuandre White, Kevin Harris, McDowell and Lloyd each received 50 or more carries.
Receiver
Starters: Josh Vann, Antwane Wells, Dakereon Joyner
Backups: Ahmarean Brown, Xavier Legette, E.J. Jenkins, Landon Samson
South Carolina could still add a transfer here during the spring, but, as it stands, Josh Vann and James Madison import Antwane Wells Jr. will anchor this group.
Vann was USC’s most dynamic receiver by a mile last season. He led the team in catches, yards and receptions per game. His five touchdowns were also tied for the most of any Gamecocks pass-catcher.
Wells was an early offseason coup for South Carolina after Rattler landed in Columbia. He was as explosive as any receiver in the country at the FCS level and projects like a legitimate home run hitter alongside Vann.
South Carolina has a handful of options in how it will round out the rest of the receiving corps. Jaheim Bell should see more time as a receiver when he’s not lined up at tight end (more on that in a second). Dakereon Joyner, Ahmarean Brown, Xavier Legette and E.J. Jenkins should also get their share of snaps.
If there’s one youngster that could crack the lineup, I like Landon Samson to do so. He’s as polished a route-runner as any high school prospect out there. He won’t get to campus until the summer, but he projects as a big part of what South Carolina will do offensively over the next couple years.
Jalen Brooks could also theoretically be back with the team, though his status is uncertain. Brooks had been away from the program since an Oct. 9 loss at Tennessee for undisclosed reasons.
Tight End
Starter: Austin Stogner/Jaheim Bell
Backup: Traevon Kenion, Zavier Short
As important as Rattler’s addition was this offseason, it probably doesn’t happen if Austin Stogner doesn’t decide to play for Beamer as well.
Beamer told reporters in recent months it was Stogner’s dad who indicated he ought to reach out to Rattler. The interest was there and ultimately it resulted in a massive commitment.
Quarterbacks aside, Stogner should be a crucial piece in the passing game this fall. Before suffering a serious leg injury at the tail end of his second season at Oklahoma, he was on pace to be a legitimate NFL prospect as a junior. Expect him to get plenty of targets.
Bell is a bit of mystery here given his positional flexibility. It’s a good bet he’ll see time at tight end, receiver and even running back or fullback. He’s as explosive as any player on the roster and the Gamecocks ought to get the ball in his hands however they can.
Offensive line
Starters: Jaylen Nichols, Vershon Lee, Jovaughn Gwyn, Eric Douglas, Dylan Wonnum
Backups: Jakai Moore, Tyshawn Wannamaker, Hank Manos
The Gamecocks bring back just about everyone on the offensive line from last year’s squad. The possibly bad news? The Gamecocks bring back just about everyone on the offensive line from last year’s squad.
The line was an absolute disaster in 2021. It ranked dead last in the Southeastern Conference in pass blocking and 10th of 14 teams in run blocking, according to Pro Football Focus. That can’t happen again this year.
Jovaughn Gwyn and Vershon Lee had moments of dominance last fall. Center Eric Douglas is also back in the fold, though it’s possible he could get shifted to one of the guard spots to put less responsibility on him snap to snap.
Jaylen Nichols and Dylan Wonnum give the Gamecocks a decent set of tackles to build around in 2022. Wonnum’s season ended prematurely due to injury. Assuming he’s back to full-health, he’ll be a key cog in keeping Rattler upright.
South Carolina ran for less than 100 yards on seven different occasions last season against FBS competition. It ran for 75 or less yards in four of those instances. Some of that falls on the running backs. Plenty falls on the line.
The Gamecocks should be explosive in the passing game in 2022. Finding a way to keep the running game moving forward — as the line did in a 301-yard rushing effort against North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl — will be crucial to escaping the SEC’s offensive cellar.
This story was originally published March 14, 2022 at 8:10 AM.
